Laza Morgan

The American songwriter, rapper, and reggae musician Laza Morgan was born in Springfield, Missouri, on December 13, 1976. His father was Denroy Morgan, a prolific musician who'd fronted a reggae group called the Black Eagles during the 1970s before earning a Top 10 hit on both the soul and dance charts with 1981's "I'd Do Anything For You." Laza Morgan followed in his father's footsteps by fusing the tropical rhythms of reggae music with other influences. He earned his first taste of fame as a collaborator, appearing on Alexandra Burke's R&B hit "Start Without You" in 2010. A popular single across Europe, the song peaked at Number 1 in the UK, Number 1 in Scotland, Number 2 in Poland, Number 5 in Ireland, and Number 10 in Belgium. "This Girl," Laza Morgan's debut as a solo artist, was released that same year and failed to chart. He appeared on the original version of Kristina Maria's "Co-Pilot" in 2011, with the song climbing to Number 26 on the Canadian Hot 100. After guesting on Teddybears' "Get Fresh With You" later that year, Morgan returned his focus to his solo career, peaking at Number 34 in France with his second single, "One by One." Released in 2012, the song featured a cameo from dancehall artist Mavado and proved to be especially popular in Jamaica, where it peaked at Number 1 for three years. It was followed by 2012's "All She Wants (Gone Tomorrow)," a minor hit that stalled at Number 177 on the French charts.